EEPROM Programmers

Xeltek universal programmers support a variety of EPROM / EEPROM chips from different manufacturers. Both programmer and its user-friendly software provide an efficient way to program complex chips. It is important to have basic knowledge of EPROM / EEPROM chips before programming.

What are EPROM and EEPROM?

EEPROM stands for Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory, and EPROM stands for Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory. EEPROM, unlike EPROM, can be written in or programmed more than once.

Data stored in an EEPROM chip is permanent, unless the user decides to erase and replace the information it contains. Furthermore, the data stored in an EEPROM chip is not lost even when the power is turned off. If you are interested in EEPROM programming, please refer to our EEPROM programmers section.

An EPROM can also retain its data when its power supply is switched off. EPROM devices have two versions: OTP (One-Time Programmable) and UV version. The OTP version EPROM can be programmed once and it can't be erased electrically. Once programmed, the user can only reprogram the area which was not programmed before. The UV version EPROM is a reprogrammable device. After erasing by exposing under strong ultraviolet light, the user can program the UV EPROM again.

Xeltek programmer software includes Chip_Erase, Blank_Check, Program, Verify and Read functions. Each device also has a basic Auto operation, which will automatically execute chosen operations in sequence. Users can edit Auto in the function screen or program chips by selecting different functions manually.

Figure 1 shows a screenshot of programming an EEPROM MX28F1000P. Follow Test Procedure I to test your own EEPROM.

Test Procedure I:

Select device

Insert the socket adapter at the bottom of the 48pin DIP socket with the adapter part number on the top

Insert the chip into the socket by following the position of pin 1 according to the instructions in the adapter information box.

Enable Insertion Test (and ID check) under operation option of the software to verify if setup is correct prior to performing any chip operation.

Load and edit file in buffer.

Run Erase, Blank_Check, Program, Verify.

Figure 1

For some EEPROM devices that don’t have Erase function in the software, the user needs to erase the chip by filling the buffer with all "FF", then running Program and Verify. For this instance, please use Test procedure II.

Test procedure II:

Select device

Insert the socket adapter at the bottom of the 48pin DIP socket with the adapter part number on the top.

Insert the chip into the socket by following the position of pin 1 according to the instructions in the adapter information box.

Enable Insertion Test under operation option of the software to verify if setup is correct prior to performing any chip operation.

Erase the chip by filling the buffer with all "FF", then running Program and Verify.

Edit the buffer or load file to the buffer

Run Blank_Check, Program, Verify

EPROM Programming

ERPOM devices usually have a OTP (one-time programmable) and a UV erasable version.\

For an OTP version, the memory in each address cannot be programmed one time. For a UV erasable versions , the user can use an EPROM Eraser to erase data before reprogramming.

Microchip 27C128 shown in Figure 3 is an EPROM with OTP version and UV erasable version. The test procedure is same as EEPROM except Erase.